Petersberg Climate Dialogue 2023

• For Prelims: Climate Finance, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Global Stocktake, Petersberg Dialogue.
• For Mains: Climate Finance and its Significance, The politics of climate change,impact of climate change on vulnerable communities and countries

Why in News?

The Petersberg Dialogue on Climate Change was hosted in Berlin, Germany from May 2-3, 2023, by Germany and the United Arab Emirates, which is hosting the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC).

What is Petersberg Dialogue?

• The Petersberg Climate Dialogue is an annual high-level political and international forum held before the United Nations Climate Change Conferences (COP).
• It was initiated in 2010 by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
• The forum aims to prepare for successful negotiations at COP climate change conferences.
• The central goal is to strengthen trust in multilateral climate negotiations and between states.
• The dialogue focuses on climate adaptation, climate finance, and dealing with loss and damage.

What are the Key Takeaways from the Petersberg Climate Dialogue?

• Need for Clean Energy Transition:
  • UN Secretary-General emphasized the need to “break our fossil fuel addiction and drive decarbonization in every sector” to achieve a 1.5°C global warming pathway.
• Global Renewables Target:
  • German Foreign Minister initiated discussions around a potential global target for renewables at the next climate conference. And stressed the need to make sharp cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
• Fossil Fuel Phaseout:
  • COP28 President called for a tripling of renewable energy capacity by 2030 followed by a doubling in 2040. And urged participants to ramp up renewable energy capacity building and focus on phasing out fossil fuel emissions while phasing up viable, affordable zero-carbon alternatives.
• Status of Climate Finance:
  • The developed countries are “on a good track” to deliver the USD 100 billion per year they had promised to mobilize by 2020 during COP15 in 2009.
    • However, a recent estimate pegs climate finance needs at 1 trillion USD annually by 2030 for emerging markets alone, highlighting the urgent need for financial reparations.
• Urgent Global Financial Systems Transformation:
  • The need for an urgent global financial systems transformation was underlined so that crucial climate finance can be unlocked for the most climate vulnerable countries in the world.
    • The burden of keeping global temperatures from rising beyond 1.5°C cannot fall on the poorest countries, who are least responsible for the stock of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
• Global Stocktake:
  • 2023 is the year for the Global Stocktake, which aims to assess whether current efforts will enable us to reach the objectives set out in the Paris Agreement.
    • The report has been underway for the past two years and is set to be released in September of 2023.
      • Union Minister for the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, stated that the outcome of the first Global Stocktake should focus on how climate change impacts, actions, and responses have a bearing on the developmental priorities of developing countries, including eradication of poverty. It should also seek to convey a message on sustainable lifestyles and sustainable consumption to inform the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions and enhanced international cooperation.

What are the India's Initiatives for Climate Change and Green Energy?

• National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC):
  • It was established in 2015 to meet the cost of adaptation to climate change for the State and Union Territories of India that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.
• National Clean Energy Fund:
  • The Fund was created to promote clean energy, and funded through an initial carbon tax on the use of coal by industries.
  • It is governed by an Inter-Ministerial Group with the Finance Secretary as the Chairman.
  • Its mandate is to fund research and development of innovative clean energy technology in the fossil and non-fossil fuel-based sectors.
• National Adaptation Fund:
  • The fund was established in 2014 with a corpus of Rs. 100 crores with the aim of bridging the gap between the need and the available funds.
  • The fund is operated under the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims

Q. With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2016)

1.The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN, and it will go into effect in 2017.

2.The Agreement aims to limit the greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2ºC or even 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels.

3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $ 1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (b)

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Mains

Q. Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference? (2021)

Source: DTE

India Latest Farm Exports Data

For Prelims: Food Price Index, India’s exports-import data and trends, Government Schemes

For Mains: Key Drivers behind Agri Exports and Imports, Government Measures to promote exports, challenges ahead

Why in News?

Provisional data released recently by the Department of Commerce has shown that both agricultural exports from and imports into India have scaled new highs in the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2023.

• The data shows that total farm exports were at USD 53.15 billion and imports at USD 35.69 billion during 2022-23, surpassing their previous year’s records.
• The resultant agricultural trade surplus has marginally dipped from USD17.82 billion to USD 17.46 billion.

What are the Key Drivers behind this Increase in Exports?

• Between 2013-14 and 2015-16, India's agricultural exports sharply fell from USD 43.25 billion to USD 32.81 billion, primarily due to the crash in global prices, as reflected the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's Food Price Index (FFPI).
  • However, imports continued to rise, leading to a decline in the farm trade surplus.
• In recent years, the FFPI has recovered, making India's agricultural commodities more globally price competitive, resulting in a surge in exports during 2020-2023.

What is FAO’s Food Price Index?

• The FFPI is a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities. It measures changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar.
• Base Period: 2014-16.
• FFPI increases when international food prices rise.

What are the Major Exports Contributors?

• In recent times, marine products, rice, and sugar have been the driving forces behind India's agricultural exports.
  • Marine Products: Marine product exports have grown steadily from USD5.02 billion in 2013-14 to USD8.08 billion in 2022-23.
  • Rice: Rice exports have also gone up during this period, from USD7.79 billion to USD11.14 billion.
    • It’s been driven by non-basmati rice, which has more than doubled. On the other hand, premium priced basmati rice has witnessed a decline.
    • Basmati exports are mainly to the Persian Gulf countries and, to some extent, the US and UK. Non-basmati shipments are more diversified.
    • It’s non-basmati that has made India the biggest rice exporter, ahead of Thailand.
  • Sugar: The recent boom in sugar exports has been the third largest contributor – from a mere USD 810.90 mn in 2017-18 to USD 5.77 bn in 2022-23 – the sugar exports have grown many folds during these years.
    • India has, in the process, emerged as the world’s No. 2 exporter after Brazil.

What are the other Laggards and Losers in the Export Basket?

• Spices: Spices exports, which saw a jump during 2013-2021, have stagnated since then.
• Buffalo: Buffalo meat exports, too, have gone down and never regained their peak of USD 4.78 billion reached in 2014-15.
• Raw Cotton, Guar-Gum and Oil Meals: The drop has been even more for raw cotton, guar-gum and oil meals. Exports of the three in 2022-23 were a pale shadow of their highs of 2011-12.
  • Cultivation of genetically modified Bt cotton and high global prices had enabled India to become the world’s top producer (ahead of China) and No. 2 exporter (after the US) of the natural fibre.
    • But with the yield gains from Bt tapering off and the regulatory regime not permitting new gene technologies, the country has turned from a net exporter to an importer of cotton.
  • Guar-gum (a thickening agent used in extraction of shale oil and gas) and oil meal exports rode the global commodity price boom from 2003-04 to 2013-14.
    • They haven’t shown the same buoyancy in the more recent post-Covid boom, partly due to domestic crop shortages – especially in cotton and soyabean – not generating adequate surpluses for exports.

What have been the Major Contributors to the Import basket?

• India's basket of imported farm produce is less dominated by agricultural products compared to its exports.
  • Among these imports, the most significant is vegetable oils, whose imports have more than doubled in value terms between 2019-20 and 2022-23.
• Imports meet roughly 60% of India’s vegetable oil requirements while the dependence on pulses imports is hardly 10% now.
  • The value of pulses imports has also come down – halved - from USD4.2 billion in 2016-17 to USD1.9 in 2022-23.
• Imports of spices, cashew, and cotton – commodities where India has traditionally been a net exporter – have shown a rising trend.
  • Spice imports going up are a reflection of reduced-price competitiveness, while cotton imports have risen as an outcome of stagnant or falling domestic production.

What are the Risks Ahead for Trade?

• International Prices: The latest FFPI reading for April 2023 is down from March 2022 and the 2022-23 average. A decrease in food prices could lead to a reduction in export earnings, particularly for those products that are more price sensitive.
• Domestic Inflation: More specifically food inflation fears ahead of the 2024 national elections could negatively affect the trade because of export-import parity.
  • The government’s measures to tame domestic inflation like banning wheat and broken rice exports and the slapping of a 20% duty on all non-parboiled non-basmati shipments could further have adverse impacts on agricultural trade.
  • If the situation doesn’t normalize more curbs on exports are expected with further liberalization of imports if the monsoon season delivers subnormal rainfall. season delivers subnormal rainfall.

What are some Measures taken by the Government to Promote Agri Export?

• Agriculture Export Policy (2018): It aims to harness export potential of Indian agriculture to make India a global power in agriculture and raise farmers’ income.
• ‘District as Export Hub’ Initiative:  The initiative's goal is to identify export products and services across all districts and establish systems to promote them. Its aim is to assist small businesses, farmers, and MSMEs in accessing foreign export markets.
• Transport and Marketing Assistance for Specified Agriculture Products: It is a Central Sector Scheme to mitigate the freight disadvantage for the export of agriculture products.
• Trade Infrastructure for Export Scheme (TIES): It aims at enhancing the country's export competitiveness by bridging gaps in export infrastructure.
• Market Access Initiatives (MAI) Scheme: The scheme aims to promote India's exports by supporting market development activities for Indian exporters. The scheme provides financial assistance for export promotion activities.
• The Export Promotion Schemes of APEDA: APEDA has launched several schemes like financial assistance, market accessibility schemes etc. to promote the export of agricultural products.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims

Q. In India, which of the following can be considered as public investment in agriculture? (2020)

1. Fixing Minimum Support Price for agricultural produce of all crops
2. Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
3. Social Capital development
4. Free electricity supply to farmers
5. Waiver of agricultural loans by the banking system
6. Setting up of cold storage facilities by the governments

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 5 only

(b) 1, 3, and 4 and 5 only

(c) 2, 3 and 6 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Ans: c

Q. What is/are the advantage/advantages of implementing the 'National Agriculture Market' scheme? (2017)

1. It is a pan-India electronic trading portal for agricultural commodities.
2. It provides the farmers access to nationwide market, with prices commensurate with the quality of their produce.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither1 nor 2

Ans: c

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Mains

Q. What are the main constraints in transport and marketing of agricultural produce in India? (2020)

Source: IE

Curtailing Misleading Food Ads

For Prelims: FSSAI, CCPA, FSS Act 2006, Consumer Welfare Fund, Central Consumer Protection Council, Consumer Protection Rules, 2021.

For Mains: Curtail.ing Misleading Food Ads

Why in News?

Recently, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has flagged misleading claims from the Food Business Operators (FBOs) and found them to be in contravention of the Food Safety and Standards (Advertisements & Claims) Regulations, 2018.

• In 2022, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) had issued Guidelines to Prevent False or Misleading Advertisements.

What are the Concerns?

• The FSSAI has discovered that some companies selling nutraceutical products, refined oils, pulses, flours, millet products, and ghee have been making false claims about their products. These claims have not been scientifically proven and could mislead consumers.
  • The FSSAI has referred these cases to the licensing authorities, who will issue notices to the companies to withdraw or modify their misleading claims.
  • Failure to comply may result in penalties, suspension or cancellation of their licenses, as making false claims or advertisements is a punishable offense under Section-53 of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006.
• The concerns related to misleading food advertisements mainly revolve around false or unsubstantiated claims made about a product's nutrition, benefits, and ingredient mix.
• This problem is widespread across different food categories, and there have been a significant number of violative food advertisements.
• Additionally, non-disclosure by food influencers is also a major concern. Misleading advertisements can lead to consumer confusion and potential harm to their health if they make incorrect food choices based on false claims.

What are the Initiatives for Consumer Protection and tackling Misleading Ads?

• Food Safety and Standards (Advertisements & Claims) Regulations, 2018: It specifically deals with food (and related products) while Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)’s regulations cover goods, products and services.
• Cable Television Network Rules, 1994: It stipulates that advertisements must not draw inferences that it has “some special or miraculous or supernatural property or quality, which is difficult to prove.
• FSS Act 2006: Product claims suggesting suitability for prevention, alleviation, treatment or cure of a disease, disorder or particular psychological condition is prohibited unless specifically permitted under the regulations of the FSS Act, 2006.
• Consumer Welfare Fund: It was set up under the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017 to promote and protect the welfare of the consumers.
  • Few Examples: Creation of Consumer Law Chairs/ Centres of Excellence in Institutions/Universities of repute to foster research and training on consumer related issues. Projects for spreading consumer literacy and awareness.
• Central Consumer Protection Council: It aims to safeguard consumer interests by monitoring and enforcing consumer protection laws, facilitating consumer education, and providing consumer redressal mechanisms. In addition, the council also promotes consumer-friendly policies and initiatives.
• Consumer Protection Rules, 2021: The rules stipulate the pecuniary jurisdiction of each tier of consumer commission. The rules revised pecuniary jurisdiction for entertaining consumer complaints.
• Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020: The rules are mandatory and are not advisory. Sellers cannot refuse to take back goods or withdraw services or refuse refunds, if such goods or services are defective, deficient, delivered late, or if they do not meet the description on the platform.

What are the Tags Given to Packaged Food?

• Natural:
  • A food product can be referred to as ‘natural’ if it is a single food derived from a recognised natural source and has nothing added to it.
  • It should only have been processed to render it suitable for human consumption. The packaging too must be done sans chemicals and preservatives.
    • Composite foods, a mixture of plant and processed constituents, cannot be called ‘natural’, instead, they can say ‘made from natural ingredients’.
• Fresh:
  • The term "fresh" can only be used for food products that have been washed, peeled, chilled, trimmed, or cut without any other processing that alters their basic characteristics.
  • If food is processed in any way to extend its shelf life, it cannot be labeled as "fresh."
  • Food irradiation is a controlled process that uses radiant energy to achieve effects like sprouting, delay in ripening, and killing of insects/pests, parasites, and microorganisms.
  • If a product is frozen soon after being harvested or prepared, it may be labeled as "freshly frozen," "fresh frozen," or "frozen from fresh."
    • However, if it contains additives or has undergone any other supply chain process, it cannot be labeled as "fresh."
• Pure:
  • Pure is to be used for single-ingredient foods to which nothing has been added and which are devoid of all avoidable contamination, while unavoidable contaminants are within prescribed controls.
    • Compound foods cannot be described as ‘pure’ but can be referred to as ‘made with pure ingredients’ if they meet the mentioned criteria.
• Original:
  • Original is used to describe food products made to a formulation, with a traceable origin that has remained unchanged over time.
  • They do not contain replacements for any major ingredients. It may similarly be used to describe a unique process which has remained essentially unchanged over time, although the product may be mass-produced.
• Nutritional Claims:
  • Nutritional claims in food advertisements can be about the specific contents of a product or comparisons with another food item. If a claim states that a food contains the same amount of a nutrient as another food, it must provide equivalent nutritional value as the reference food.
  • Nutritional claims may either be about the specific contents of a product or comparisons with some other foodstuff.

Way Forward

• Companies need to provide technical and clinical evidence to support their claims. Advertisements should also be modified in a way that consumers can interpret them correctly.
• FSSAI and the state food authorities should conduct surveys of food business activity under their jurisdiction to ensure a comprehensive and reliable database of FBOs and ensure better enforcement and administration of the FSS Act.
• There is a need to Increase limits of compensation and fine in cases of injury or death and provide adequate infrastructure such as food testing laboratories.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Q. Consider the following statements: (2018)

1. The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 replaced the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.
2. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is under the charge of Director General of Health Services in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (a)

• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GoI. It has been established under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which consolidates various acts and orders that have hitherto handled food related issues in various Ministries and Departments.
• The Food Standards and Safety Act, 2006 replaced several Acts and Orders like the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954; Fruit Products Order, 1955; etc. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• FSSAI is headed by a non-executive Chairperson, appointed by the Central Government, either holding or have held a position not below the rank of Secretary to the GoI. It is not under the charge of Director General of Health Services. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• FSSAI has been created for laying down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to human consumption.
• Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Source: TH

Drug Recall

• For Prelims: Drug Recall, Not of Standard Quality, The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, Drugs Controller General of India, CDSCO.
• For Mains: Need for Drug Recall Law in India.

Why in News?

Recently, a pharmaceutical company inadvertently shipped a Mislabeled batch of Drugs to the market, which highlights the issue of circulating substandard drugs in the market and need for Drug Recall Law in India.

• While such recalls take place regularly in the U.S., including by Indian companies, but not seen in India.

What is a Drug Recall?

• A drug recall occurs when a prescription or over-the-counter drug is removed from the market because of its harmful or side effects.
• Drug recall is the process of removing or correcting a marketed drug product that violates the laws and regulations governing the safety, efficacy, or quality of a drug.
• Drug recalls are typically issued when a product is found to be defective, contaminated, mislabeled, or poses a risk to the health and safety of patients.
• The goal of a drug recall is to protect the public from harm by removing the affected product from the market, and to provide a remedy or refund for consumers who have already purchased the product.

What is the Need for Drug Recall Law in India?

• It is crucial for India to have a national Drug Recall Law to guarantee that once a drug is known to be Not of Standard Quality (NSQ), the entire batch is withdrawn from the market.
  • Currently, there is no such Law in India to withdraw the entire batch of substandard drugs from the market.
• At most state drug regulators can order a withdrawal of a particular batch from their state but given that India is a common market, it is possible that the same batch is dispersed across multiple states.
• In such a case, there needs to be a central drug regulator who can execute and coordinate national recall.
• Despite flagging this as a major issue in 1976, India still lacks a national law on recalling drugs.
  • As a result, even after government analysts declare drugs to be NSQ, there is no system to actually withdraw batches of drugs from across India.

Why does India not have Regulatory Infrastructure for Substandard Drugs?

• Apathy and Lack of Expertise:
  • The Drug Regulation Section of government is not up to the task of tackling complex drug regulatory issues due to a combination of different factors including apathy, lack of expertise in the area, and a greater interest in enabling the growth of the pharmaceutical industry than protecting public health.
• Fragmented Regulatory Structure:
  • India has a highly fragmented regulatory structure, with each state having its own drug regulator.
  • But despite the fragmentation, drugs manufactured in one state can seamlessly cross borders to be sold in all states around the country.
• Opposition to Centralised Regulatory:
  • Both the pharmaceutical industry and state drug regulators have resisted greater centralisation of regulatory powers.
  • The incompetence of a regulator in just one state can lead to adverse effects for patients in other states, whose citizens have no influence or electoral power to demand accountability of that regulator.
• No Interest within Government:
  • There appears to be no interest within the government and no sustained demand from civil society for reform.
  • The government is more invested in the growth of the pharmaceutical industry rather than public health.
  • There is possibly a perception that tighter regulation could slow the growth of the pharmaceutical industry.

What are the Implications of Delay in Framing any such Law?

• When substandard drugs are not promptly recalled from the market, it can have serious consequences for consumers, including illness and even death. However, in India, the process of drug recall is often slow and ineffective, leading to a dangerous situation for the public.
• If the government does not take swift action to recall substandard drugs, it could indicate a lack of accountability and responsibility towards the health and safety of the people.
• Furthermore, delaying the recall of these drugs could lead to a loss of public trust in the healthcare system and the government.

How Drugs Are Regulated in India?

• The Drugs and Cosmetics Act:
  • The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules 1945 have entrusted various responsibilities to central and state regulators for regulation of drugs and cosmetics.
  • It provides the regulatory guidelines for issuing licenses to manufacture Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani medicines.
• Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation(CDSCO):
  • Prescribes standards and measures for ensuring the safety, efficacy and quality of drugs, cosmetics, diagnostics and devices in the country.
  • Regulates the market authorization of new drugs and clinical trials standards.
• Drugs Controller General of India:
  • DCGI is the head of department of the CDSCO of the Government of India responsible for approval of licences of specified categories of drugs such as blood and blood products, IV fluids, vaccines and sera in India.
  • DCGI also sets standards for manufacturing, sales, import, and distribution of drugs in India.

Way Forward

• If health activists accept there is a problem with drug regulation and ask for systemic reform, they will add to the medley of voices asking for reform. Right now, there appears to be a reluctance to even accept there is a problem with drug quality in India.
• To create an effective recall mechanism, the responsibility of recalling drugs has to be centralised, with one authority that has the legal power to hold companies liable for failures to recall drugs from across the country, and further, to also search and seize batches of failed medicine.

Source: TH

India, US, UAE and Saudi Arabia Discuss Infrastructure Initiatives

For Prelims: I2U2 initiative, Abraham Accords

For Mains: Groupings and Agreements including India and affecting India’s interest

Why in News?

Recently, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosted a special meeting of the National Security Advisers (NSAs) of India, the US, and the UAE.

What are the Key Highlights of the Meeting?

• The discussions aimed to strengthen relations and ties between the countries in a way that enhances growth and stability in the region.
• The meeting focused on regional initiatives on infrastructure.
• The meeting sought to advance their shared vision of a more secure and prosperous Middle East region interconnected with India and the world.
• Among the projects discussed, a plan to connect Gulf countries via a railway network and connect to India via shipping lanes from "two ports" in the region is highlighted.
  • This is meant to provide a counter to China's Belt and Road initiative and other inroads in the region.
• The idea for the initiative came up during talks held over the past 18 months by the I2U2.
  • The I2U2 Quad, works on connecting "South Asia to the Middle East to the United States in ways that advance economic technology and diplomacy".

What is the I2U2 Quad?

• About:
  • I2U2 is a new grouping formed by India, Israel, the UAE, and the US.
  • It is also referred to as the West Asian Quad.
• Objectives:
  • It is focused on expanding economic and political cooperation in the Middle East and Asia.
  • The framework aims to foster support and cooperation in infrastructure, technology and maritime security.
• Formation of I2U2:
  • I2U2 was initially formed in October 2021 following the Abraham Accords.
    • The Abraham Accords normalized relations between Israel and a number of Arab Gulf countries.
• First Summit of I2U2:
  • The first virtual summit of I2U2 took place on July 14, 2022.
  • The summit focused heavily on the global food and energy crisis resulting from the conflict in Ukraine.

What will be the Significance of I2U2 for India?

• Advantage from Abraham Accords:
  • India will get advantage of the Abraham Accords to deepen engagement with Israel without risking its ties with the UAE and the other Arab states.
• Benefit Market:
  • India is a massive consumer market. It’s a massive producer of high-tech and highly sought-after goods as well. India will benefit from this grouping.
• Alliances:
  • It will help India in building alliances — political alliances, social alliances.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question  

Q. How will I2U2 (India, Israel, UAE and USA) grouping transform India’s position in global politics? (2022)

Source: TH

Multimodal Logistics Park in Assam

For Prelims: Multi Modal Logistics Park, Bharatmala Pariyojna

For Mains: Infrastructure, Significance of Logistic Sector in Economy, Multi Modal Logistics Park, Bharatmala Pariyojna

Why in News?

Recently, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, visited the construction site of India’s first International Multi-Modal Logistics park(MMLP) in Jogighopa, Assam, to review the progress made so far.

• Multi Modal Logistics Park is likely to Boost Connectivity in the Northeast.

What is the Scope of this Project?

• The park is being developed under the ambitious Bharatmala Pariyojana of the Government.
• This park is being made by National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
• The park will be connected to road, rail, air, and waterways.
• It is being developed in 317-acre land along the Brahmaputra.
• Project is likely to unlock huge potential for the region along with neighboring countries like Bhutan and Bangladesh.

What is MMLP?

• About:
  • A MMLP is a transportation hub that combines different modes of transport in one location to enable efficient movement of goods.
  • These logistics parks are typically located near major transportation nodes, such as ports, airports, and highways.
  • They are designed to handle a large volume of goods, with facilities for warehousing, distribution, and value-added services such as packaging and labeling.
• Benefits:
  • Improved Supply Chain Efficiency:
    • By bringing together multiple modes of transportation, MMLPs can reduce the time moving goods between different locations. This helps to streamline the supply chain and improve overall efficiency.
  • Reduced Logistics Costs:
    • MMLPs can reduce logistics costs by providing shared facilities and infrastructure, such as warehousing and transportation, which can be used by multiple companies. This helps to lower operational costs and improve profitability.
  • Enhanced Safety and Security:
    • MMLPs often have advanced security systems and protocols in place to ensure the safety of goods and people. This helps to prevent theft, damage, and other security issues that can impact the supply chain.
  • Environmental Benefits:
    • By reducing the number of trips required to transport goods, MMLPs can help to reduce carbon emissions and other environmental impacts associated with transportation.
• Status of MMLP in India:
  • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) authorized the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to develop 35 MMLP under the Bharatmala Pariyojana.
    • Bangalore, Chennai, Guwahati, and Nagpur MMLPs under implementation.
  • The MMLPs are to be developed under Public Private Partnership (PPP) on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) mode.
  • The National Highways and Logistics Management (NHLML), a special purpose vehicle (SPV) fully owned by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), plans to construct the majority of the proposed MMLPs in PPP mode.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Q. What is the significance of Industrial Corridors in India? Identifying industrial corridors, explain their main characteristics. (2018)

Source: PIB

Star Engulfing Jupiter-Sized Planet

Why in News?

According to a recent study, scientists have observed a bloated Sun-like star, identified as ZTF SLRN-2020, swallowing a Jupiter-sized planet, causing the star to expel some material into space in an energetic belch.

• The researchers used the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) at Caltech's Palomar Observatory to spot the star rapidly become 100 times brighter, then figured out why this happened.

What are the Findings of the Study?

• Star:
  • The star is similar to our sun in size and composition and is located in our Milky Way galaxy about 12,000 light-years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Aquila.
    • A light year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km).
    • The star is around 10 billion years old, twice as old as the sun.
    • The constellation Aquila, the eagle, is visible in the northern hemisphere from July through October. It is a mid-sized constellation, spanning 652 square degrees of the sky.
  • The star is in the early stages of the red giant phase, which means that it was bloated in its old age and had depleted hydrogen fuel in its core, causing its dimensions to expand.
    • Red giant stars can swell to a hundred times their original diameter, engulfing any planets in their way.
    • Mercury, Venus and finally Earth, our solar system's three innermost planets, will meet this destiny as the sun evolves through its red giant phase in about 5 billion years.
• Star Engulfing the Planet:
  • As the star grew, the planet's orbit brought it too close, and it started getting pulled into the star's atmosphere. The closer it got, the faster it was pulled in, causing it to plunge into the star suddenly, creating the emission of intense radiation.

What is the Life Cycle of a Star?

• Birth: A star's life cycle begins with a Nebula, where gravity pulls gas and dust together to form a protostar.
  • Nebulae are huge clouds of gas and dust.
• Main Sequence Stage: When the core gets hot enough, Nuclear Fusion starts, and the star enters the main sequence stage.
  • During the main sequence stage, the star burns hydrogen in its core, producing energy that keeps the star stable and shining brightly.
  • Smaller stars burn fuel slowly and can shine for billions of years, while massive stars burn it fast and may only last for hundreds of thousands of years.
• Old Age and Death: As a star's hydrogen runs out, it expands and cools, becoming a red giant. Smaller stars turn into a planetary nebula, then a white dwarf, and eventually a black dwarf.
  • More massive stars explode as a supernova, scattering materials into space, and leaving behind a neutron star or a black hole.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Q. Recently, scientists observed the merger of giant ‘blackholes’ billions of light-years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation? (2019)

(a) ‘Higgs boson particles’ were detected.
(b) ‘Gravitational waves’ were detected.
(c) Possibility of inter-galactic space travel through ‘wormhole’ was confirmed.
(d) It enabled the scientists to understand ‘singularity’.

Ans: (b)

• Every few minutes a pair of black holes smash into each other. These cataclysms release ripples in the fabric of space time known as gravitational waves.
• Gravitational waves are ‘ripples’ in space-time caused by some of the most violent and energetic processes in the Universe. Albert Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves in 1916 in his General Theory of Relativity.
• The strongest gravitational waves are produced by catastrophic events such as colliding black holes, the collapse of supernovae, coalescing neutron stars or white dwarf stars, etc.
• Scientists have yet again detected gravitational waves produced by the merger of two light black holes about a billion light-years away from the Earth.
• It was recorded by Laser Interferometer Gravitational‑Wave Observatory (LIGO).
• Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Source: IE

BRO Celebrates 64th Raising Day

Why in News?

Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated its 64th Raising Day on May 07, 2023, at all its detachments across the country.

What are the Key Highlights of the Event?

• The BRO Technical Training Complex and an Automated Driving Track were inaugurated.
  • These facilities will enhance the training standards of the BRO personnel and help them to be better prepared for various challenges.
• BRO-centric software, developed as part of ‘Digital India’ initiative were also launched on the occasion. 
  • These softwares have been developed to automate various aspects of the functioning of the BRO for smoother & faster output and increased transparency.
• An MoU was signed for construction of indigenous Class 70R Double Lane Modular Bridges which will help in bolstering the operational preparedness of the Armed Forces.
  • Class 70R Double Lane Modular Bridges are pre-engineered steel bridges designed to carry vehicular traffic on two lanes.
• The event also witnessed flagging-in ‘Ekta Avam Shradhanjali Abhiyaan’, a multi-modal expedition which began on April 10, 2023. 

What is Ekta Avam Shradhanjali Abhiyaan?

• It was launched to commemorate the sacrifices and contribution of its Karmyogis in nation building as a part of 64th BRO Day Celebrations.
• It is a multi-model expedition; the team comprises of Motorcycles and Motor cars which started from North East and Northern part of the country.
  • The motorcycle leg of the expedition commenced on 14 Apr 2023, from Kibithu, Arunachal Pradesh.
• Expedition members from 18 Projects had collected Soil, Water and Saplings from 108 remote border locations and the same were planted at BRO Alma Mater, BRO School and Centre, Pune.

What is Border Road Organisation?

• About:
• BRO was conceived and raised in 1960 by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru for coordinating the speedy development of a network of roads in the North and the North Eastern border regions of the country.
• It works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence.
• It has diversified into a large spectrum of construction and development works comprising airfields, building projects, defence works and tunneling and has endeared itself to the people.
• Achievements so far:
• The BRO, in more than six decades, has constructed over 61,000 kms of roads, over 900 Bridges, four Tunnels and 19 airfields under challenging conditions along India’s borders and in friendly foreign countries, including Bhutan, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
• In 2022-23, the BRO completed 103 infrastructure projects, the most by the organisation in a single year.
  • These include construction of Shyok Bridge in Eastern Ladakh and Steel Arch Siyom Bridge of Load Class 70 in Arunachal Pradesh on Along-Yinkiong Road. 

Source: PIB

Rapid Fire Current Affairs

Indian Air Force Heritage Centre

India's Defence Minister, inaugurated the nation's first Indian Air Force Heritage Centre in Chandigarh. The centre, spread across 17,000 sqft at the Government Press Building, houses five vintage aircraft, including the first IAF-made patent aircraft, the Air Force 'Kanpur-1 Vintage Prototype Aircraft'. The heritage centre also provides visitors with cockpit exposure and experience with flight simulators. Along with the historical significance, the centre will also showcase various rescue operations being undertaken by the IAF all over the country and the initiatives undertaken by the Air Force Family Welfare Association for the benefit of the families of air warriors.

Read more: INDIAN AIR FORCE DAY

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Paralakhemundi Railway Station

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has opposed the railway ministry's decision to demolish the heritage station at Paralakhemundi, one of the oldest railway stations in Odisha, built in 1899 by the then royals. The station is being redeveloped, and a new building is being constructed that overshadows the existing heritage structure. INTACH has requested to give the old station a heritage tag and preserve it as it is.

The INTACH is a non-profit organization based in India, founded in 1984 with the aim of conserving and preserving India's cultural heritage. The organization works towards promoting awareness about India's diverse cultural heritage, protecting and conserving historic buildings, monuments, and sites of archaeological importance, and supporting traditional art forms and crafts.

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MoHUA and MoR jointly Signed MoU with JICA for Project SMART

The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs and Ministry of Railways, in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), have signed an MoU for 'Station Area Development along Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail' (Project-SMART). This project aims to develop the surrounding areas of Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Railway (HSR) stations to improve accessibility and convenience for commuters and other stakeholders and to promote economic activities in the vicinity of station areas. The project will enhance the institutional capacity of state governments, municipal corporations, and urban development authorities to plan, develop and manage the surrounding areas of MAHSR stations.

The MoU covers four HSRs: Sabarmati, Surat, Virar, and Thane. Surat, Virar, and Thane are greenfield developments while Sabarmati is a brownfield development.

The MoHUA, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and JICA are organizing seminars and field visits. The goal is to prepare Station Area Development Plans and a model handbook for Transit Oriented Development. The handbook will contain methodologies adopted in Japan, India, and other countries.

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India's Coal Imports Increase by 30% in FY23

India's coal imports have surged by 30% to 162.46 million Tonnes in the 2022-23 financial year from 124.99 MT in the previous year, as per a report by Mjunction services limited. The import of coking coal, a key raw material used in steel production rose by 5.44% to 54.46 MT from 51.65 MT in FY22.

In March, non-coking coal imports stood at 13.88 MT, a growth of 9.8% from the previous year. However, coking coal imports decreased to 3.96 MT against 4.76 MT imported in March 2022.

Although India is among the top coal producers globally, the country is heavily dependent on imports, particularly for coking coal. Rising demand for steam coal in India and weakening seaborne prices led to increased imports in March, likely to continue in the coming months. Besides coal, imports of anthracite, pulverized coal injection (PCI coal), met coke and pet coke grew by 24% to 249.06 MT in FY23.

Read more: Coal Sector in India